Back in October, Healing in the Hood launched a new program titled Victims of Crime Advocacy (VOCA) in conjunction with the Victims of Crime Act of 1984.
The Victim Crime Act of 1984 was created to assist states in providing services directly related to the emotional healing and recovery of crime victims.
This law also established the Crime Victims Fund, which is funded through fines, penalties, and forfeitures collected for persons or companies convicted of offenses against the U.S.
Both Nina Watson and Michael Williams of Blytheville are victim advocates over the program. Watson explained how the program came about.
“Initially, Healing in the Hood has always been an advocate for the community. This grant came about and it made a way to continue the work we’ve done in the community. Anytime something happens in the community people ask ‘Where is Healing in the Hood?’ and we’re usually the first one to get the notification,” said Watson.
Watson continued, “With this program being on board, Healing in the Hood is here, and will continue to be here even more so now that there is funding backing a program that helps the community.”
Michael Williams also spoke about some of the reasons he became a victim advocate.
“Personally just living in the area and noticing the crime rate go higher in certain times of the year, we all lose people because we are in a smaller community. We all pretty much know each other so anytime something happens we usually know the person it happened to and the families. Now we have funding to be a resource for these victims to go to during those times,” said Williams.
Program director Sandy ‘Bebe’ Gillespie gave his thoughts on why VOCA was necessary for the community.
“It was a need for it, that’s why we started. My mom was murdered when I was eight years old, so I know that there is a need for victim services in our community because of course we are going through a lot of that in Blytheville.”
Some of the services that are available through VOCA include reparations assistance, transitional housing, counseling, and legal assistance.
“Reparations assistance is helping out with things like funeral arrangements for the families who are victims of a homicide. It’s also providing resources for children that may be needed to take care of them,” explained Watson, “If you are a witness or anything that makes you a direct victim or you have trauma, there is funding from the federal government that is funneled down to the state.”
Watson added, “We have transitional housing, which is where if you’ve been uprooted from your dwelling or a place that you reside and you have nowhere else to go we will provide transitional housing for you and your family.”
“We do all sorts of counseling, grief counseling, peer support, one on one counseling, interpreter services, legal assistance and transportation. It’s all to just help you rebuild your life after something tragic happens,” said Watson.
Both Watson and Williams stressed that no one is denied services from VOCA.
“This program includes everybody. We don’t turn anyone away. It’s not up to us to say whether someone’s a victim or not and we do whatever is necessary to help someone rebuild,” said Watson.
Willams added, “You don’t have to be a recent victim to get help here. You can be an adult in your 40’s and if you were abused as a child you still qualify to be advocated for.”
Watson mentioned the importance of VOCA gaining partnerships in the community.
“Getting partnerships is very vital for our sustainability. It’s important that we partner with schools, city officials, police departments, hospitals and other organizations that are like ours such as Arky’s World and the Haven,” said Watson, “Just because we offer certain resources doesn’t mean we cannot go to other people for their resources because you never know what the need is of the victim.”
Moving forward, program director Gillespie said that he would like to see more expansion within VOCA.
“I’d like to see us exceed Mississippi County and going to different counties in the state of Arkansas and at large make a change throughout the communities,” said Gillespie.
Watson said, “The biggest part is there are a lot of people here that are hurting and struggling. They don’t know that they have resources that they can tap into. There are a lot of unsolved murders and by us being on board we are here to help those people.”
Victims can set an appointment by visiting the DREAM Center, 115 S. 2nd Street, Blytheville, or by calling the VOCA hotline number 833-982-1967.
Watson said, “If someone doesn’t want to leave home, we will go to them. Everything is confidential if you don’t get anything else from this know that if you are a victim or you know someone is a victim, it’s okay to get help. Know your resources.”